Sara Hammerzmith

So! It’s time for my lookback at 2016, and it feels like this year, has been QUITE the year, actually.

January

Started off the year with the best of the best in SlipKnot – Two shows, one in Helsinki and one i Gothenburg. The shows were.. they were good. I was sort of set off by the fact they actually opened the shows with “The Negative One”, but what can you do. In Helsinki, I also had the opportunity to meet them, which was amazing! In Gothenburg I met Fritiof and Sebastian as well, which was amazeballs! I wrapped up the month with my annual visit to Sofia, which was amazing!

February

February was a bit of a month! The last preparation for the upcoming trip was happening, but most importantly, it was filled with some gigs – Toto and Grave Robbert in Stockholm. Both gigs were amazing, and I had a lot of fun!

I had to re-install my The Sims 4, and because of that, I made Aria Cavanaugh. I still miss Anna to this date, but Aria is a good go still.

At the end of the month, I started my trip to Australia with a pitstop in Norwich to catch Sabaton and Alestorm on their co-headline tour, support by Bloodbound. Incredible gig with an incredible line up! But of course, I didn’t leave before I could say good bye to Nathan.

March

Most of March was spent in Australia and New Zealand. It was amazing meeting one of my close friends of almost ten years for the first time, but also to discover countries completely different from our own. Looking out the windows seeing, what for me, is tropical trees, going outside while dark and it still being warm, breathless views over waterfalls and forests… I can’t even begin. And not to mention, the amazing gigs by Epica in Auckland and Brisbane! Was so good to finally catch the Quantuum Enigma tour.

End of March was spent in Germany, hanging out with Daniel and walking around the city.

April

April started off with a bam together with the mighty wolves in Powerwolf. Two shows – Frankfurt and Clermont-Ferrand in France, which was an epic journey! There’s nothing quite like getting to the trainstation at 6 am in the morning, meeting up with an equally tired Madlen embarking on a 9 hour long journey to Clermont. On the stop in Paris we picked up on Sophie, and they both tested Vegemite which I so lovingly, on Sophie’s request, had brought home. Or actually not, I got it at the Australia shop in Frankfurt, but!

Once in Clermont we met up with additional friends and basically had the night of our lives. It was a great evening, to say the least.

The month was pretty filled. Catching up with a lot of people here at home, forcing Vegemite down their throats, and a lot of travels to Stockholm, partly as preparations for what was coming in May, but also to catch Butcher Babies and Sumo Cyco. Sumo Cyco, what a band! And Butcher Babies. Ah, I love them.

May

May was a big month for me, as I finally fulfilled my dreams of working at the Eurovision Song Contest. It was an amazing experience, and I’m so happy Stockholm City allowed me to do this, and thanks to Robert for letting me stay at his place.

In May, I also celebrated ten years as a Lordi fan. What a perfect way huh?

June

June was all about Sweden Rock! Our amazing monstars played the festival for the first time, and I couldn’t have been more proud of them! The festival all in all was pretty great, aside a massive betrayal, but what can one do? The bands, some of the friends were great – and the shopping was great as usual!

July

July… July started off so great. Tuska Open Air Metal Festival – 10 year anniversary since The Arockalypse tour, and a show replicating most of the show from the The Arockalypse tour. The show… the show people. This is easily one of the best Lordi shows that I have seen to date, but what made this trip so amazingly special was the people. Sharing this amazing and special show with Nathan and Sophie was the best thing ever. The next couple of days we had shenanigans at the Lordi exhibition, playing around, getting peppersprayed, making new friends in Niki, Vickie, Saana, Juuso, Markus and Elodie. And not to mention… The last dinner at the pizzeria. That was seriously one of my favorite moments easy – chilling for hours, eating good food and not wanting the night to end because it meant departing.

Tuska was one of the best experience.

And oh. Lordi released their new costumes and everybody pretty much just lost their mind. It’s like Sophie said – “You are just waiting and waiting and hoping they will release it, but as soon as they do you are completely not ready and your losing your mind”.

August

August was festivalmonth! Started off with the best smallest biggest coziest festival in the world. I went alone this year, meeting up with occasional friends at the spot, and had an amazing time. Seeing great bands like Quiet Riot, Art Nation, Haunted by Destiny, Kamelot and Hardcore Superstar. It was very pleasant.

This was also the month Delain’s “Moonbathers” was released, “The Last Stand” by Sabaton and single drops from HammerFall (“The Sacred Vow”), Amaranthe (“That Song”) and Lordi (“Hug You Hardcore”)

Toward the end of August it was time for Sabaton Open Air. I haven’t been on this festival since it’s very first one in 2008, it was nice being “back”. Well, “back” since they moved the location since then. The main reason I was there was of course Lordi, but I was happy to see amazing bands such as Hysterica, Bloodbound and not to mention – Sabaton. Oh, I also turned 25!

September

In September, I celebrate ten years since I saw Lordi live for the first time. But aside that, it was a pretty slow month – we mostly planned November’s endeavours. On the other hand, we had a lot of single releases and album releases. Or perhaps not a lot, but Lordis new, long awaited album came out, and it was mindblowing! Same thing for The Lounge Kittens “Sequins and C-Bombs” and a number of singles from HammerFall and Sumo Cyco amongst others!

October

October means Powerwolf+ Civil War tour! I did two shows in the tour, which is a little on the low side for me, but I had to put most of my fire into the two week tour in November.

But, the two gigs I did see was great – great catching up with Dani, Toni and Madlen, as well as meeting Claudia and Sandra!

November

November was amazing. I guess this is one of the highlight months, completely. Started off my major tour in France and Paris, where I saw three amazing gigs – Kissin’ Dynamite, Amaranthe and Delain. I got to spend time with some great friends – Sophie, Laura, Cyril, Florian, Emilie, Ambre and Elodie, and see amazing things. After France, I set off directly to Ireland together with my amazing crew Sophie, Nathan and Paula to have a couple of amazing days in Dublin and seeing two amazing gigs by Lordi, and not to mention the crazy amazing gig in Galway. TOP SHOW. Wrapped it up with seeing Delain again, amazing tour!

I also did a spontaneous last minute trip to London with Nathan, Paula and Niki to see the beloved monstars just one more time, and additionally, seeing Reckless Love at the legendary Electric Ballroom!

December

December was a slow month. Didn’t do a lot, mostly planning and preparing for the new year, which will be INCREDIBLE!

So… That is my year in review. There has been some extreme dips, but also some extreme highs. It’s been an amazing year. Let’s see how many of my predictions came through:

• Make it to 400 CD’s. Let’s make it a little more… achieveable.
• Travel somewhere new. Aside what we have already planned.
• See Civil War live again
• Get somewhere new.

Well… It’s a few anyway! I don’t think I made it to 400 albums, sadly, but I got a good way!

So, for the next year:

• Make it to 500 CD’s. Despite not finishing my goals last year, I raise the bar.
• Travel somewhere new aside what is already planned.
• See Van Halen live
• See Bon Jovi again
• Start writing somewhere new.

I think that will do for now.

And now; Thank you, to all people that were a part of my year, and all the things we did together. I love you all, and see you next year!

// Sara

Hello folks. Sorry for the late update, I’ve finally started to get back to work after being sick for so long, so it has taken a little bit of time to get used to everything, and to make it better, I start off my shifts with stablework and then nightwork the same time. So I basically went out harder than I normally would have. But hey, why not?

To put a little sparkles on my day, I got some late Christmas gifts, that were actually unexpected as well.

The first, was from my mother.

Delain’s album “April Rain”. This was a bit unexpected, seeing I had no idea she had more incoming, which made me superconfused when I opened the box. But nonetheless, it’s was very welcomed! Now I’m only lacking one Delain album before I have the complete discography – well, on the album side anyway!

The next is actually from my older sister Caroline.

“How to Build a Girl” by Caitlin Moran. Looking at the description of the book, it sounds very interesting and I’m looking forward diving into it!

And now, I’m getting back to bed because I’m literally falling asleep here.

// Sara

Merry Christmas everyone! By now, Christmas has actually passed and I’m just really sitting here and winding down with VH1 Classics “Nothing But the 90’s” where it’s nonstop musicvideos of the best of the 90’s. I love their themeshows like this.

The day started off pretty rushed actually – because of my illness, setting up everything for Christmas has been quite delayed. But, in about 45 minutes I worked my magic and managed to throw together a nice Christmas tree to surprise my hard working mother when she came down the stairs to a pretty much all set up Christmascelebration. Usually, she is the one who’s fixing it – but like I said, she’s a hard working woman and haven’t had the time.

Spent the day with the usual – Donald Duck followed by “Kan Du Vissla Johanna?” and what hopefully is a new tradition – “Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension”. Seriously, I had forgotten how much I love this movie. We had a nice Christmas dinner and then once Phineas & Ferb was done, we gave our gifts. So, before you all need to ask I’ll tell you what I got.

From my little brother, and probably the most unexpected gift of the evening: Freddy Krueger chopsticks. Basically, I’ll always have a bit of Freddy now when I eat my noodles. I’m still a bit surprised he still actually remembered I’m into this movie franchise.

Next to it, a bit cut out, is actually a note with witty writings about some albums that didn’t make it in time for Christmas that I’ll get later. I’ll update you as time goes on what albums it actually was, unless some of you could guess from the little things you can see. As well as a card from my father with a financial contribution.

Mixed make up from Mother and Brother. It’s two NYX eye shadows in the colors “Frostbite” and “Tin”. NickaK eyeshadow palette with various vibrant colors perfect for the upcoming Epica tour, and two NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream – colors “Prague” and “Amsterdam”. I cannot wait to swatch these. I’ve fallen in love with NYX’s Lip Creams – I just love the feeling of it on the lips, and the colors! I’m pretty sure I could end up getting all colors in the line if I didn’t prioritize things like traveling.

And lastly; the music. There is never a Christmas here without music.

Firstly; Promo CD of Powerwolf’s debut album “Lupus Dei” given from my friend Hansi from Norway. I’m not sure if it was intended as a Christmas gift, but it arrived in good time for it! Secondly, all of the albums from my mother; Shiraz Lane’s “For Crying Out Loud” – as you all know by now, Shiraz Lane was one of Lordi’s supportbands on this past Monstour, and I did eventually fall in love with their music.

Second album is Stala&SO.s selftitled album, which I believe is also their last so far. I’m looking forward to get into it! And thirdly, Kissin’ Dynamites “Megalomania”. I’m so in love with this album, so I was very happy to see if behind the wrappings.

So, that would be it. The rest of the night have been spent in front of Disney Channel up until now, as I wrote, when I’m sitting back with some Julmust and currently watching Guns n Roses crank out “Sweet Child O’Mine” on VH1 and digging into the albums a bit. Oh Fuck yes, Queen “Another Ones Bites The Dust” just started. Wonderful.

// Sara

Well, that is a kind of odd title to put on this entry. As you’ve noticed, I haven’t written anything these past days, which is because the sinusitis evolved into something much worse, something we don’t even know what it is. And it’s still not over yet, but at least I feel good enough to have any sort of concious in my head.

So what has actually been up since… Well, I’ve gone over the new Savatage album I bought a few times, and while it doesn’t just yet meet up to “Edge of Thorns”, but I’m still liking it and will let it grow on me. I did fin the titletrack, “Gutter Ballet” pretty interesting as it drew the thoughts a lot to “Cliffs of Gallipoli” by Sabaton. Interesting times, huh?

Aside that it’s really just the usual. Tourplanning. We had a major setback, but we are finally back on track, which makes me really happy. I can’t wait for all of these amazing shows next year.

With that said, I’m now going to bed before I start write about a lot more nonsense than I already did.

// Sara

So, I was hit with an aggressive dose of sinusitis a few days ago which have left me completely knocked out. Like, I’m not even joking – I’ve spent evenings and also this morning crying out in the pain I felt in my forehead caused by this. Gladly, I got some painkiller that do literally kill the pain, so hopefully I’ll be good from now on.

But, I did get some things done before it hit me like truck, and the first and perhaps most major thing is that I got to collect my Sabaton beers. And they are sooo pretty! I can’t wait to try them out. Soon enough, hopefully!

I also took some time to stop by Knastret, our amazing little second hand musicstore we have down a cellar by the big square. My father traded some vinyls there almost a year ago, so I had some store credit to collect. At last, my decision for today fell on two albums – first one is Kamelot’s “The Fourth Legacy”, I figured that after being absolutely mesmerized with their performance at Skogsröjet and also being in love with the few song Elize is featured on, it was time for me get more familiar with the band.

The second album is Savatage’s “Gutter Ballet”. I absolutely fell in love with Savatage after getting their album “Edge of Thorns” (Thank you Powerwolf!) and it was about time to extend the collection a bit. “Edge of Thorns” are one of those albums of mine that I cannot stop listening to, no matter how many times I hear it, I never grow tired of it. This is the album I put on when laying down in a warm bath or when I need some good music while working. And trust me, I don’t say this about a lot of albums, so it’s a pretty sensational thing.

With all of this being said, I am now retiring to bed. I’m probably way beyond my bedtime right now, as I feel my body starting to ache a bit again, lets hope I can fall asleep peacefully, shall we?

Good night people!

// Sara

So today, I’ve sort of started my re-decoration of my room. Essentially, it’s time for me to let go of old things that I’ve been holding onto for way to long. Things that I still may love, but that doesn’t bring me the happiness they should be. So, what I was doing first was to remove an entire section of old Funtasie books, only keeping the Lurlene McDaniel ones as I did really love those, in order to move the music memoirs there. The plan is in fact to move all the books that I read and enjoy to the small bookcase, as there is where I read. But small steps!

(Before)
(After)

Secondly, I started updating my “metal” display. In order to update it, I removed some Eurovision trivia that sadly with go down the box and built a tower to fit everything. I’m actually thinking about boxing up Frozen until further notice, but I haven’t gone the distance just yet.

My next few projects involves finishing the grammophone space as well as the larger bookcase. I plan to remove the computergames, into the shelf where the musicbiographies were, and then fill the other spaces with other things in order to open it up and get it less cluttered. But, that will wait for another day.

// Sara